Hi,
Well, being the NCUC liaison to ALAC, I decided to liaise. While no formal
meeting has been set for Seoul (which to me is a pity but whatever), that
doesn't mean that interested folks can't get together for more informal
chatting about mutual concerns and such. Getting to know and understand
each other better seems a worthy use of our scarce time, especially since,
as others who are also in both camps can attest, we often are having
parallel conversations with parallel views being expressed, and ought to be
working together where possible to advance public interest representation in
ICANN. So I wrote to ALAC and proposed an informal, agenda-free round of
libation and/or dinner on Monday night after the IDN ccTLD fast track
reception (meaning people may already be well lubricated), and more than a
dozen people responded favorably, which is encouraging. I hope we can
muster a good NCUC contingent to make this work!
The path of least resistance would probably be to simply gather in the lobby
at 8pm and then head off somewhere, we can ask the concierge for suggestions
based on the body count. Given the responses on the ALAC side I'm
guessing/hoping maybe 20-30 people unless the reception etc proves
centrifugal.
My mobile is +41 78 635 4888 if someone fails to make the connection and
wants to join later wherever we end up.
Please do come if you're free, some bridge building would be constructive.
Best,
Bill
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William J. Drake
Senior Associate
Centre for International Governance
Graduate Institute of International and
Development Studies
Geneva, Switzerland
www.graduateinstitute.ch/cig/drake.html
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